Published: Sunday, January 4, 2009
Coroner IDs victims in Santa-suit slayings
COVINA, Calif. -- The Los Angeles County coroner's office has identified six of the nine people killed when a man dressed as Santa Claus attacked his ex-wife's family on Christmas Eve.
Bruce Pardo, distraught over his divorce, shot up the home in Covina where his ex-wife and her family had gathered and then sprayed the house with flammable gas, authorities said. He was burned when the gas ignited and later fatally shot himself.
Coroner's Lt. Larry Dietz said Saturday that the office identified the bodies of the ex-wife's parents: Joseph Ortega, 80, of Covina, who died from multiple gunshot wounds, and Alicia Ortega, 70, who was shot in the abdomen.
Also killed were Teresa Ortega, 51, who was shot in the leg but died from burns and smoke inhalation; Alicia Ortiz, 46, of Upland; and Charles Ortega, 50, of West Covina and his wife, Cheri, 45. Ortiz, Ortega and his wife died of multiple injuries, including burns, gunshot wounds and smoke inhalation.
Three bodies remain unidentified. Covina police said three people are listed as missing: the ex-wife, Sylvia Pardo, 43; Teresa Ortega's husband James, 52, and Michael Ortiz, the 17-year-old son of Alicia Ortiz.
Pardo, a laid-off aerospace worker, apparently shot some of his nine victims execution-style in a plot to destroy his ex-wife's family after a costly divorce.
Bruce Pardo, distraught over his divorce, shot up the home in Covina where his ex-wife and her family had gathered and then sprayed the house with flammable gas, authorities said. He was burned when the gas ignited and later fatally shot himself.
Coroner's Lt. Larry Dietz said Saturday that the office identified the bodies of the ex-wife's parents: Joseph Ortega, 80, of Covina, who died from multiple gunshot wounds, and Alicia Ortega, 70, who was shot in the abdomen.
Also killed were Teresa Ortega, 51, who was shot in the leg but died from burns and smoke inhalation; Alicia Ortiz, 46, of Upland; and Charles Ortega, 50, of West Covina and his wife, Cheri, 45. Ortiz, Ortega and his wife died of multiple injuries, including burns, gunshot wounds and smoke inhalation.
Three bodies remain unidentified. Covina police said three people are listed as missing: the ex-wife, Sylvia Pardo, 43; Teresa Ortega's husband James, 52, and Michael Ortiz, the 17-year-old son of Alicia Ortiz.
Pardo, a laid-off aerospace worker, apparently shot some of his nine victims execution-style in a plot to destroy his ex-wife's family after a costly divorce.
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